Hi Honey... I'm Home! (at La Concha, Puerto Rico)

Yes, if I could do it all over again... I would decorate my home just like this...

Isn't it lovely? This is the newly renovated La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
I was reintroduced to the property from a brilliant article in Architectural Digest.

Mmmmm.... such hot curves!

Quiet spaces & neutral palates...

Uninterrupted views of the sea... so my kind of place.

Contact me for great rates and check in soon!

iPhone App: Rules & Signals

Another iPhone Application that might be of interest to those who want to revise / remind themselves of the navigation shapes, lights and sounds.

The "Rules & Signals" does just that - tells you what they all do in very clear graphics and sounds. There's even a random mode so you can test yourself like those flip cards you get when doing the sailing theory courses. It covers both the buoys system A and B, and there are animated examples of lights on approaches to a harbour (Salcombe).

Not much else to say - it does what it's designed to do in way that is clear and easy to, er, navigate!

And if one early evening you see the lights below coming out of the rain showers you'll know what they are.

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A good sail

It was a good sail, down river in the morning, back up in the afternoon in a RS something (Vision I think).

Not because of the frankly curmudgeonly wind, that made it possible to do a 360 without the sails being set once (how is that possible?), and not because it was a warm sunny day (there was no sun).

But it had three good ingredients:

1) destination was a rather good pub

2) two good crew

3) despite the best efforts of wind didn't go for a swim

And tomorrow is a Bank Holiday so have another day off!

Group Writing Challenge - Updated

Update on the group writing competition set a couple of days ago.

Background here, but basic exercise is as follows: imagine you had to create the ultimate YourBlog Experience! that captures the essence of what your blog is about and which your audience might possibly be convinced to pay to do.

My contribution can be found here and Carol Anne's over on Five O'Clock Somewhere.

Any more out there?

Update: yes! Tillerman's great entry (count me in!) called "The Laser Experience" as well as promising us:

• Proper Course: The Dating Agency!
• Proper Course: The Haiku Composition Weekend!
• Proper Course: Pole Dancing for Beginners!

Flying a Kite

Bonnie over on frogma posted a lovely kite flying photo so here is one in exchange.

It's from that brief trip to Ankara, and on the last evening got a taxi driver to give me a tour of the small old part of the city. He knew only a few words of English and I only had the Turkish for "thank you" to communicate.

Luckily there were some universal words that need no translation, like "football" and "Arsenal".

Actually scratch that, I think "football" does need translation in some countries!

13 is too young to circumnavigate solo

Well I think so anyhow. There's time enough in life to circumnavigate later, but childhood and school can only happen once. And if it was my niece I wouldn't want her out in those stormy waters, alone.

Click above to see another story on junior circumnavigators from Alex Thomson on the excellent Channel 4 News.

Bon Appetit Eats Caribbean!

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again... if I wasn't "in" travel, I'd be in food. So along with my monthly copies of Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure arrive Bon Appetit, Gourmet, and Cooking Light. (And soon a new foodie mag I can't wait to devour - Relish!)

What gets me really excited? When one my favorite foodie mags features the Caribbean! So run, don't walk, to newsstands now and scoop up the September issue of Bon Appetit for this great article "Caribbean Splurge & Save" (or you can just check it out right here) Enjoy as the writer takes your palate through the Bahamas, Anguilla, & Barbados!

Photo - Sit seaside and linger longer at The Fish Pot on Barbados.

Brit Boy's Record Circumnavigation

Nice video news report of Mike Perham's circumavigation - you also find out Robin Knox-Johnston's favourite song to sing when doing his record breaking voyage!

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The World Atlas

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The JP Blog Experience - on Dragon's Den!

Dragon's Den logo and post advert music

INT: Dragon's Den set. The five dragon's are seated, staring at JP who is standing in front of them with various props such as a mast and sail, paddle, bike and flip chart with rough map of the Thames as it runs through central London.

Voice over: Welcome back. And before the break JP presented to the dragon's his plan for a business called the JP Blog Experience. He is looking for an investment of £ 100,000 - but how will the dragons react? Are there stormy waters ahead or will it be plain sailing? First up is straight talking dragon man (STDM)

STDM: Let me get this straight, you want £ 100,000 for 0.25% of the company. How on earth did you get to a valuation of forty million pounds?

JP looks alarmed, starts to sweat, counting numbers on his fingers and mouthing silently.

JP: Er, hmm, lets think, don't rush me,

(pause)

JP: Oh I know, that should be 25% not 0.25%. Sorry!

STDM: I'm not interested in putting my money in a business that can't spot when something is wrong by a factor of one hundred, so I'm out.

Voice over: That not a good start, lets see what scary looking dragon woman (SLDW) has to say.

SLDW: I'm worried about the health and safety angle. There's been alarming stories about tragic accidents in water sports recently: what did your risk assessment come up with and what sort of insurance cover are your planning for?

JP: Ah, yes, those are good points, must remember to do something about that

JP turns over a page on the flip board and on a clean sheet writes down "To do (more): health and safety, risk assessment, insurance".

SLDW throws up her hands in disbelief.

SLDW: How can you possibly not have these critical issues under control! I'm out!

Voice over: two down, some serious questions being asked by the dragons. I wonder what cheaky chappy dragon man (CCDM) has to say:

CCDM: JP, like the idea, want to know some more about how the money will be spent, the marketing plan and staffing.

JP: Well I was thinking of getting some great dinghies, nice kayaks, good bikes, somewhere to store them err..... what was the next? Oh yes, marketing, well the blog of course, and staffing, no idea - hadn't got that far.

CCDM: So you have no serious marketing plan just a shopping list. And as for staffing - it sounds like you don't even have a single Australian who says "hey guys" on your team do you?

JP: er... no....

CCDM: What are you thinking? Everyone knows that a water sport business must have an Australian who says "hey guys" on the team! I'm out!

Voice over: That's a serious blunder. JP really shouldn't have been prepared to be questioned about the Australian team member who says "hey guys". Now its the turn of Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon (NNRD) to give JP some feedback.

NNRD: GGRRRRRR!!!!!! CRRRKKKK!!! ROOOAAAARRRR!!

NNRD waves his wings and then blows a wave of fire at JP who hides behind the flip chart which bursts into flames taking with it the sail, mast and one of the paddles.

Voice over: Torching the presention - that's never a good sign! Looks like a serious thumbs down from Norbert! Just one to go, can JP pull anything out of this hat. What does the Tall Techy Dragon Man (TTDM) have to say.

TTDM: JP, like the idea, always enjoy paddling or sailing and London's a great, great city. But got a question for you. The Wandle tour up to, what did you say? "meadows" I think you said?

JP nods.

TTDM: I've been up the Wandle and this is what I remember: muddy smelly start, long dark pipe, then too shallow to paddle industrial zone. Have you personally paddled up to these "meadows".

JP: Ah.... yes, maybe the Wandle isn't the best river to choose.

(pause)

TTDM: JP, I like the idea but you really haven't done your homework here. Sorry, I'm out.

JP gathers up the smoldering remains of his props and flip chart and walks despondently off set.

Where next for the JP Blog Experience?

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The JP Blog Experience: 5 London Adventures

Welcome to the JP Blog Experience - outdoor adventures in the heart of London!

Choose your tour from one of the following:

1: Code ADV-01: Bike ride from Putney to Richmond

2: Code ADV-02: Kayak up the Wandle

3: Code ADV-03: Sail into Central London

4: Code ADV-04: Walkers Thames Tour

5: Code ADV-05: Running the South Bank

See description below for more information - contact us to make a booking!

ADV-01: Bike ride from Putney to Richmond

Do you want to breathe a bit of fresh air and see green trees rather than dense urban development? If so join us on a bike ride along the famous Thames path, 184 miles from source to sea.

Fear not, we won't be covering all of it in the tour, just the part between the London south west villages of Putney and Richmond. Here the Thames path is green and rural, and easy riding with a wide and near level track.

Both start and end points can be reached by train and tube for convenient access, and helmets are provided for all guests.

Code ADV-02: Kayak up the Wandle

You may have heard of the main river of London, the Thames, but do you know about some of the others, such as the Wandle?

On this tour you'll join our group exploring this historic river as it is meant to be discovered - from water level. From the mouth at the Thames, once a centre of industry up into the sprawling suburbs and the meadows beyond.

You will start from our Putney base where kayaks and all necessary safety gear will be provided. Our instructors are happy to guide you though basic kayaking skills are an advantage.

Bring change of clothes just in case!

3: Code ADV-03: Sail into Central London

The Thames that runs through the centre of London is an excellent way to see the majority of sights in a unique way. Join us as we glide silently by sail, remembering the famous Thames Barges that navigated this river in years gone by.

We run a fleet of stable and secure Enterprise dinghies that can take our guide / skipper as well up to two or three guests. A typical voyage starts at our base in West London and sails down river to the centre and back again, though we can provide customised itineraries that start / end at the Westminster pier.

Note that this tour is only available at low tide so contact our sales office for departure times.

4: Code ADV-04: Walkers Thames Tour

We are justly proud of our river bank tour of London, described by one online review as the "ultimate" walking tour. We even offer a number of routes, starting and ending at one of the following tube stations:

• Westminster
• Embankment
• London Bridge
• Tower Hill

Along the way our knowledgeable guide will point out some of the world famous landmarks, and provide colourful stories from London's long history. From Westminster to the Tower of London, from St Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern gallery, you'll be amazed and surprised by what you will discover.

Note that due to London's changeable weather, it's best to be prepared with an umbrella - just in case!

5: Code ADV-05: Running the South Bank

For the fit and energetic of you, we also offer running guides to London and the Thames.

Following the same route as ADV-04 we cover the top 50 sights of this amazing city while getting a good aerobic work out.

The South Bank of the Thames is well suited for jogging and running, being pedestrianised and conveniently level.

Fear not - we allow frequent stops to take photographs and have a breather!

Guests should be able to run 5 km and bring suitable footwear.

Viceroy Comes to the Caribbean

Does this post really even need a narrative? Seriously, this IS perfection. I can't add a thing - except to say that the new Viceroy Anguilla makes me very, very happy...

Let me send you here... just give a jingle, send off a note... I want to hear from you!